Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
May 18, 2017

NEW DELHI, India – Just over a year after letting the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) off the hook with a multi-million dollar debt, Indian cricket authorities are hopping mad that the WICB has not supported them in the restructuring of cricket’s governance processes.

Factions of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) have now called for pressure to be brought to bear on the WICB for its lack of support in the recent vote regarding the International Cricket Council’s new governance structure and revenue sharing model.

Indian Cricket Board secretary Amitabh Chaudhary has reportedly been urged to get an explanation from the WICB about its lack of support for India.

At an ICC Board meeting in Dubai last month, the BCCI found itself standing alone as nine other countries voted in support of the governance structure. On the contentious revenue sharing model, India found support only from the Sri Lankan Board, as they lost 8-2 on the vote.

Sections of the BCCI now want joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary to speak to WICB president Dave Cameron about the recent ICC votes, as there is a belief the Caribbean board was not held accountable enough for the decision of the one-day side to abruptly abandon the tour to India three years ago.

“We let the West Indies Cricket Board go scot-free back in 2014 after they pulled out midway,” a senior BCCI official, who requested anonymity, told the Press Trust of India.

“We claimed damages of US$42 million but that was also waived by Shashank Manohar after he became the BCCI president for the second time. Now they (WICB) have also voted against us at ICC Board. We need to look at these aspects.”

The BCCI suspended bilateral ties with West Indies and also lodged the multi-million dollar claim against the WICB back in November, 2014, after the Dwayne Bravo-led team walked off the tour earlier the same month following the fourth ODI. The action stemmed from a players pay dispute with the board.

President of the West Indies Cricket Board, Dave Cameron, brokered a deal with the Indian authorities that averted the possibility of regional cricket going bankrupt as a result of a multi-million dollar claim by India.

However, the matter was settled amicably following talks between the WICB and the new Manohar-led BCCI, with the entities agreeing to future bilateral tours.

Last year in announcing the resumption of cricketing tours between the two, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur acknowledged the good relationship that existed between West Indies and India.

“We recognise that West Indies has a huge role to play in the development of cricket and we are happy to support their endeavours. This tour will further strengthen the bond between the Indian and the West Indian fans, who have over the years patronised this glorious game of cricket,” Thakur said then.

Manohar had also then acknowledged the deleterious effect to West Indies cricket if India had insisted on the WICB honouring the compensation claim for the abandoned tour. Last year WICB president Dave Cameron in expressing his board’s delight at India’s decision to waive their claim, had thanked the BCCI for resuming ties and noted West Indies cricket appreciated the support of the BCCI.

Only yesterday, the BCCI confirmed India’s six-match limited overs tour of the Caribbean starting next month, but the senior BCCI official said the only entity benefitting from the arrangement was the WICB.

“There has to be some discussions with Cameron and WICB as to what their viewpoint is on governance,” the official continued.

“In any case, it’s the WICB which gains if we go [on the tour]. Before the ICC Annual Conference, it would be great if Amitabh speaks to their cricket board.”

India toured the Caribbean last year for four Tests and also played West Indies in a two-match Twenty20 series in Florida.

I am asking a few questions here. 1.-> Was this a set-up by India, to waive the monies they demanded from the cancelled tour? Knowing full well that they would have needed WICB’s support? 2.-> Were they banking on the fact that the WICB is cash strapped and can be bought and sold easily? Were they “playing” (for want of a better word) on the fact that the WICB is managed by a bunch of idiots, all of whom they could control and persuade at their whim and fancy? Were they placing or did they place the WICB in an obligatory or “do-fuh-do” situation ? What difference would it have made had the WICB voted for India anyway? the final vote count showed they lost 2 for, to 8 against. Had the WICB voted for India the count would have been 3 for and 7 against. Clearly no difference in the result. Big question remains…. How will they retaliate? will they endeavor to rub the West Indies cricketers’ faces in the dirt and vote them out as a test playing team? Will they move to destroy the WI team as a unit claiming the team co9nsist of a group of INDEPENDENT sovereign nations, each with its own constitution, Anthem, Coat-of-Arms, parliament, National flag, international borders, and added to all this, WE ARE VERY INSULAR TOWARDS EACH OTHER. with literally no free movements, we must pass through our individual Immigration and customs?????
Well I think that is more than food for thought.

I am asking a few questions here. 1.-> Was this a set-up by India, to waive the monies they demanded from the cancelled tour? Knowing full well that they would have needed WICB’s support? 2.-> Were they banking on the fact that the WICB is cash strapped and can be bought and sold easily? Were they “playing” (for want of a better word) on the fact that the WICB is managed by a bunch of idiots, all of whom they could control and persuade at their whim and fancy? Were they placing or did they place the WICB in an obligatory or “do-fuh-do” situation ? What difference would it have made had the WICB voted for India anyway? the final vote count showed they lost 2 for, to 8 against. Had the WICB voted for India the count would have been 3 for and 7 against. Clearly no difference in the result. Big question remains…. How will they retaliate? will they endeavor to rub the West Indies cricketers’ faces in the dirt and vote them out as a test playing team? Will they move to destroy the WI team as a unit claiming the team co9nsist of a group of INDEPENDENT sovereign nations, each with its own constitution, Anthem, Coat-of-Arms, parliament, National flag, international borders, and added to all this, WE ARE VERY INSULAR TOWARDS EACH OTHER. with literally no free movements, we must pass through our individual Immigration and customs?????
Well I think that is more than food for thought.

There is nothing wrong with “I scratch your back, you scratch mine”,,,,but the WICB unable to get along with nobody other than the officials who see WI cricket as they play-toy and gold-mine.
Cannot get along with its own players and cannot get along with other Cricket Boards, particularly those who have a similar agenda.
India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, WI, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe all have the same Agenda. But they rather join hands with England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and create an elitist group.
People like Cameron and others will soon find out.
and @jrsmith, this has nothing to do with politicians,,, it has to do with a whole “slave mentality” that is embraced by some ordinary people like US, who will kick down the bucket and mash toes on the ladder to prevent their OWN from moving forward. Of course politicians are part of the group, but it is worst when ordinary black people do it to their OWN colour, race and class.
That is the biggest problem of all , when it is inside the family-house with people eating at the same Table.

There is nothing wrong with “I scratch your back, you scratch mine”,,,,but the WICB unable to get along with nobody other than the officials who see WI cricket as they play-toy and gold-mine.
Cannot get along with its own players and cannot get along with other Cricket Boards, particularly those who have a similar agenda.
India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, WI, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe all have the same Agenda. But they rather join hands with England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and create an elitist group.
People like Cameron and others will soon find out.
and @jrsmith, this has nothing to do with politicians,,, it has to do with a whole “slave mentality” that is embraced by some ordinary people like US, who will kick down the bucket and mash toes on the ladder to prevent their OWN from moving forward. Of course politicians are part of the group, but it is worst when ordinary black people do it to their OWN colour, race and class.
That is the biggest problem of all , when it is inside the family-house with people eating at the same Table.

Do any of you know the ” power sharing proposal ” the indians were proposing? I suggest you all seek the documented proposal before throughing remarks about Cameron. Also you should find out why the other nations voted against it.

India wanted to take ultimate control of ICC with their superior financial base. This would have been to the detriment of the lesser playi g nations including WI. So i have to give credit to Cameron for holding firm.

Do any of you know the ” power sharing proposal ” the indians were proposing? I suggest you all seek the documented proposal before throughing remarks about Cameron. Also you should find out why the other nations voted against it.
India wanted to take ultimate control of ICC with their superior financial base. This would have been to the detriment of the lesser playi g nations including WI. So i have to give credit to Cameron for holding firm.